By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Finland’s Lauri Markkanen confirmed his intention to play for the senior national team of Finland this summer in the next games of the FIBA World Cup 2027 Qualifiers. “We have a couple of national team games. I’m excited to have that as my ramp-up again going to the NBA season,” he stated during his end-of-season media availability on Monday. Finland currently sits 3-1 in Group G of the European Qualifiers with two games left in July, and will also play two more to start a new six-game schedule in Group L in August.
Utah Jazz teammate Jusuf Nurkic talked about his pending free agency during his exit interview. “It would be easy to come back, and I want to come back. Love everything about the state and the team. It was one of those things that you didn’t have expectations, and ends up like a beautiful thing,” said the 31-year-old Bosnian center.
Though he expressed his desire to stay, the Tuzla native remained cautious regarding the process. “Free agency is a tricky thing, and you want to be part of it, so I can’t really speak to much about it,” he added.
Nurkic will become an unrestricted free agent this summer, after tallying 10.9 points, 10.4 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.3 steals, and 0.5 blocks in 41 games in the 2025-26 NBA Regular Season. His season ended in February due to a nasal surgery to correct a severely deviated septum, shortly before Markkanen’s season was cut short by a right hip impingement and associated bone bruise. The team coached by Will Hardy ended up at 22-60.
“It’s not the results that you want, obviously, but trying to look at the big picture, I think we got a great future ahead of us and that’s kind of being on the back of our minds as well, and trying to get the guys healthy and be ready to go,” noted Markkanen, who is under contract through the 2028-29 season after signing a five-year, $238 million extension in 2024.
The 28-year-old combo forward averaged 26.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.0 steals, and 0.5 blocks over 42 games this season.
“The league is super talented, and I think we’ve got to put it together, but we definitely have a chance,” he commented on whether the Jazz being healthy can reach the Playoffs next season. “I think that’s our mindset going into the year that we will make the Playoffs, and that’s everybody’s goal.”